Shade roller operating means



A ril 19, 1938. s, w, PAIGE 2,114,568

SHADE ROLLER OPERATING MEANS Filed Jan. 19, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 jgj J/ Z! W f2 0 7 Z6 a 2? Q; 25' 1f 0 A Z Z --/5' O 0 24* w I n venior Attorneys' April 19, 1938. 7 s w, P 2,114,568

SHADE ROLLER OPERATING MEANS Filed Jan. 19, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 19, 1938 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to what is believed to be a structurally new and novel shade roller support and operating means therefor, wherein the arrangement is such as to substitute a manually controlled operating mechanism for the socalled conventional pawl and ratchet spring actuating means.

Seeking to improve on known prior patented and marketed arrangements, I have perfected aptly fitted structural details mutually cooperating in a well planned assemblage constituting what is believed to be a desirable and appreciable contribution to the art.

In reducing to actual practice the principles of my ideas, I have found it expedient and practicable to utilize a pair of similar supporting brackets provided with ball bearing devices to rotatably and effectively support the trunnion equipped ends of the shade roller, whereby to facilitate rais- 20 ing and lowering the shade.

The principal feature of the invention is, however, predicated on the adoption and use of es capement-like pawl and ratchet means wherein the ratchet wheel is directly coordinated with a pull chain having its free workable ends depending in parallelism within convenient reach to facilitate positioning the shade in the desired position and satisfactorily holding it set in such position.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and drawings.

In the drawings:

' Figure 1 is an elevational view, essentially in section, showing the complete assemblage as constructed in accordance with my personal ideas.

Figure 2 is an end view of Figure 1 observing it in a direction from left to right.

Figure 3 is a sectional view which may be said 40 to be taken approximately on the plane of the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detail elevational view of the left hand bracket and its appurtenances, the chain being removed for clearness of illustration.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the spring pawl and its attaching element.

Figure 6 is what may be designated as an outside elevational view of the right hand bracket shown in Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of one end portion of the shade drum or roller.

In the drawings the wooden shade roller is denoted by the numeral 8 and this embodies a central axle or shaft 9 whose ends extend beyond 5 the corresponding ends of the roller proper and constitute trunnions or journals I0 and H. The shade, which may be of any appropriate construction, is denoted by the numeral l2 and is shown wound on the roller as seen in Figure 1.

The so-called right hand supporting and hanger fixture is differentiated by the numeral l3. It comprises an apertured attaching flange I4 and an outstanding right angularly disposed plate l5. The central portion of the plate indicated at I6 in Figure 6 is formed into a cup I! to accommodate a. notched roller bearing unit 18. The entrance notch [9 permits insertion and removal of the trunnion II.

The left hand or opposite supporting. fixture is denoted by the numeral 20. This also includes an apertured attaching flange 2| and an outstanding wing or plate 22. As seen to advantage in Figure 4, the central longitudinal edge portion of the plate is formed. into a circular cup 23, facing outwardly and containing therein a suitable ball race or bearing unit denoted by the numeral 24. This arrangement provides the desired anti-friction support or bearing for the trunnion I0. Consequently, by supporting both ends of the roller in ball bearing races, the shade may be wound and unwound easily.

Attention is now called to the numeral 25 in Figure 4. This comprises a suitable receptacle, guiding and tracking adapter for the pull chain 26. It includes a suitably curved track or hanger flange 2i having down-turned guides 28 at opposite ends. These guides lead the chain-ends down into desired parallelism for convenient reach and operation. The numeral 29 designates an attaching flange, and this is secured to the inner side of the bearing cup 23. This adapter bracket 25 serves to accommodate the marginal tubed portion of the escapement or ratchet wheel 30, this being keyed on the trunnion l0 and interposed between the bearing cup 23 and said adapter fixtures 25, as well as the adjacent end of the wooden part of the roller 8.

Also attached to the bearing cup is an L-shaped member 3| carrying the spring trip or pawl 32. The pawl is located for releasable ratcheting engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 30.

Assuming that the device is set up and assembled as shown in the drawings, and referring to Figure 2, it is evident that by pulling either end of the chain 26, the links thereof being in mesh or tracking connection with the teeth of the gear wheel, said wheel is rotated and this in turn rotates the shade roller, permitting winding or unwinding of the shade depending on the direction of movement of the chain. The spring pawl provides the desired ratcheting action and also serves to retain the ratchet Wheel set when the shade is located, through the instrumentality of the chain, in the desired position.

It follows, therefore, that the gist of the invention is predicated upon a pair of companion supporting brackets attachable to the frame and provided with roller bearing devices to accommodate journals or trunnions on the opposite ends of the shade roller. This is one feature. Secondly, novelty is predicated upon the chain actuated ratchet wheel and pawl and ratchet features cooperable with the chain. More specifically, novelty is predicated on the individual fixtures I3, 20, and the accessories 25 and 3| and 32 seen in Figure 4. Or stated otherwise, novelty is based on the structural coordination of features in combination as well as the individual component parts which mutually cooperate to render the structure efiicient and reliable.

It is thought that the description taken in connection with the drawings will enable a clear understanding of the invention to be had. Therefore, a more lengthy description is thought unnecessary.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that minor changes coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to if desired.

I claim:

1. In a structure of the class described, a pair of companion supporting and attaching brackets, a shade roller having trunnions at its opposite ends, said brackets being provided with bearings receiving the trunnions to facilitate rotation of the roller in either direction, a toothed Wheel con nected with one trunnion, a chain hanger connected with one bracket and having a curved flange extending under the lower part of the wheel, semi-tubular guides extending downardly and outwardly at the ends of said flange and a chain having an intermediate portion passing over the flange and through the guides and said portion of the chain engaging the teeth at that part of the Wheel located in the hanger.

2. In a structure of the class described, a pair of supporting brackets, a roller having trunnions at its ends rotatably arranged in said brackets, a toothed wheel on one trunnion, a chain hanger connected with one bracket and having a downwardly curved flange for receiving the lower part of the wheel and downwardly and outwardly curved guides at the ends of the flange, a chain having an intermediate portion passing over the flange and through the guides with its links engaging the lower teeth of the wheel, a small bracket supported from that bracket carrying the hanger and a spring detent carried by the small bracket and engaging the upper portion of the toothed wheel to frictionally hold the same against movement.

SAMUEL W. PAIGE. 

